The Poems of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Volume 2 | Page 7

first, and leaves us last;?Why she likes him, admire not at her;?She loves herself, and that's the matter.?How was her tutor wont to praise?The geniuses of ancient days!?(Those authors he so oft had named,?For learning, wit, and wisdom, famed;)?Was struck with love, esteem, and awe,?For persons whom he never saw.?Suppose Cadenus flourish'd then,?He must adore such godlike men.?If one short volume could comprise?All that was witty, learn'd, and wise,?How would it be esteem'd and read,?Although the writer long were dead!?If such an author were alive,?How all would for his friendship strive,?And come in crowds to see his face!?And this she takes to be her case.?Cadenus answers every end,?The book, the author, and the friend;?The utmost her desires will reach,?Is but to learn what he can teach:?His converse is a system fit?Alone to fill up all her wit;?While every passion of her mind?In him is centred and confined.?Love can with speech inspire a mute,?And taught Vanessa to dispute.?This topic, never touch'd before,?Display'd her eloquence the more:?Her knowledge, with such pains acquired,?By this new passion grew inspired;?Through this she made all objects pass,?Which gave a tincture o'er the mass;?As rivers, though they bend and twine,?Still to the sea their course incline:?Or, as philosophers, who find?Some favourite system to their mind;?In every point to make it fit,?Will force all nature to submit.?Cadenus, who could ne'er suspect?His lessons would have such effect,?Or be so artfully applied,?Insensibly came on her side.?It was an unforeseen event;?Things took a turn he never meant.?Whoe'er excels in what we prize,?Appears a hero in our eyes;?Each girl, when pleased with what is taught,?Will have the teacher in her thought.?When miss delights in her spinet,?A fiddler may a fortune get;?A blockhead, with melodious voice,?In boarding-schools may have his choice:?And oft the dancing-master's art?Climbs from the toe to touch the heart.?In learning let a nymph delight,?The pedant gets a mistress by't.?Cadenus, to his grief and shame,?Could scarce oppose Vanessa's flame;?And, though her arguments were strong,?At least could hardly wish them wrong.?Howe'er it came, he could not tell,?But sure she never talk'd so well.?His pride began to interpose;?Preferr'd before a crowd of beaux!?So bright a nymph to come unsought!?Such wonder by his merit wrought!?'Tis merit must with her prevail!?He never knew her judgment fail!?She noted all she ever read!?And had a most discerning head!?'Tis an old maxim in the schools,?That flattery's the food of fools;?Yet now and then your men of wit?Will condescend to take a bit.?So when Cadenus could not hide,?He chose to justify his pride;?Construing the passion she had shown,?Much to her praise, more to his own.?Nature in him had merit placed,?In her a most judicious taste.?Love, hitherto a transient guest,?Ne'er held possession of his breast;?So long attending at the gate,?Disdain'd to enter in so late.?Love why do we one passion call,?When 'tis a compound of them all??Where hot and cold, where sharp and sweet,?In all their equipages meet;?Where pleasures mix'd with pains appear,?Sorrow with joy, and hope with fear;?Wherein his dignity and age?Forbid Cadenus to engage.?But friendship, in its greatest height,?A constant, rational delight,?On virtue's basis fix'd to last,?When love allurements long are past,?Which gently warms, but cannot burn,?He gladly offers in return;?His want of passion will redeem?With gratitude, respect, esteem:?With what devotion we bestow,?When goddesses appear below.?While thus Cadenus entertains?Vanessa in exalted strains,?The nymph in sober words entreats?A truce with all sublime conceits;?For why such raptures, flights, and fancies,?To her who durst not read romances??In lofty style to make replies,?Which he had taught her to despise??But when her tutor will affect?Devotion, duty, and respect,?He fairly abdicates the throne:?The government is now her own;?He has a forfeiture incurr'd;?She vows to take him at his word,?And hopes he will not think it strange?If both should now their stations change,?The nymph will have her turn to be?The tutor; and the pupil, he;?Though she already can discern?Her scholar is not apt to learn;?Or wants capacity to reach?The science she designs to teach;?Wherein his genius was below?The skill of every common beau,?Who, though he cannot spell, is wise?Enough to read a lady's eyes,?And will each accidental glance?Interpret for a kind advance.?But what success Vanessa met,?Is to the world a secret yet.?Whether the nymph, to please her swain,?Talks in a high romantic strain;?Or whether he at last descends?To act with less seraphic ends;?Or to compound the business, whether?They temper love and books together;?Must never to mankind be told,?Nor shall the conscious Muse unfold.?Meantime the mournful Queen of Love?Led but a weary life above.?She ventures now to leave the skies,?Grown by Vanessa's conduct wise:?For though by one perverse event?Pallas had cross'd her first intent;?Though her design was not obtain'd:?Yet had she much experience gain'd,?And, by the project vainly tried,?Could better now the cause decide.?She gave due notice, that both parties,?Coram Regina, prox' die Martis,?Should at their peril, without fail,?Come and appear, and save their bail.?All met;